Yesterday, AMD company presented its new dual cores processors AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 and AMD athlon X2 BE -2300. From predecessors , new processors differ in terms of characteristics and marking, I propose to begin from the new notation.

New marking procedure for AMD processors

Since Athlon XP generation K7 the rating notation of AMD processors was not based in clock frequency. AMD proved then that low-frequency are capable to complete with high-frequency intel processors . Then intel stopped the race of high clock frequency with architecture core , witch proved to be faster than current AMD athlon 64 Processor (K8 generation). Furthermore, at equal or close frequencies AMD processors are noticeably slower than core micro-architecture . Therefore it is completely logical, that AMD company decided to reexamine principles and procedures, which give the processors names .

Let us examine the new notation based on example of processor AMD athlon X2 BE -2350. The new processor includes two letters and four numbers. The first two letters ( BE )designate the processor class , the second latter speaks about the energy consumption level . Processors with marking BE relate to class with consumption below 65 W, in our case 45 W.

The first number ( BE -2350 ) designates the processor series. The series 2xxx include at present dual core AMD athlon X2. Focus attention, that from the name AMD athlon 64 X2 disappeared the 64 numbers . AMD company was first in the development and injection of x86-64 technology, its priority in this region can not be disputed. In the present moment absolutely all AMD processors are released with 64-Bit support and there is no need to mention this each time . Furthermore, shorter name simplifies writing, memorization and recognition.

Last three numbers ( BE -2350 ) reflect the alignment of processor in series. Higher number indicates superiority in characteristics, for example, in frequency or cache volume .

After seeing the name athlon X2 BE -2350, you will be able to understand that this is middle class desktop processor , its energy consumption is below 65 W , the processor relates to AMD athlon X2 family . This processor for example, is better than AMD athlon X2 BE -2300, but slower than AMD athlon X2 BE -2400.

The processor AMD Athlon X2 BE -2350

Here is the processor AMD athlon X2 BE -2350.

The first marking line is : ADH2350IAA5DD, the second line : AAAKG 0713TPAW --- speaks, that this processor is released in 13th week 2007, in the last week of March. The processor was produced in Germany on 65 nm technology and assembled in Malaysia, it operates at 2.1 GHz (200 * 10.5) frequency and each of its two cores is equipped with 512 KB cache in the second level.

The current version of utility CPU- Z and Everest CPUID, report the true core name , but the utility core-Temp cannot even detect the processor name.....

In other words, this processor is well known to us : 65 nm core brisbane stepping G1 and this processor could be called Athlon 64 X2 4000+, but with difference in energy consumption witch does not exceed 45 W (In case of new processor). The default voltage of this processor is only 1.15 v.

With the technology cool\'n\'Quiet , the vcore voltage is reduced to 1.1 v, multiplier to 5x and processor energy consumption is lowered to 27.7 W.

We have already talked about the performance of 65 nm AMD processor (Check previous reviews) . In a word the performance of 65 nm AMD processors was poor : First, in comparison with 90 nm core windsor they have lower L2 cache volume ( 2 MB in 90 nm cpu vs 1 MB only in 65 NM ). Second, even at equal frequencies new processors lose in performance over old one due to the increased L2 cache latency . And, third, the appearance of fractional multiplier witch result in lower memory real frequency . For example, the multiplier 10.5X in processor AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 is unsuccessful one , If user install DDR2 800 in reality this last will operates at 700 MHz only . :-(

All those noted factors do not speak in favor of 65 nm AMD processors , which lose over its 90 nm analogs. . AND if we look to the new processors from overclocker side, then the decreased energy consumption, achieved with lower default voltage , does not lead to increase in the processors overclocking potential . This was clearly discussed in previous news and article with Energy efficient processors athlon 64 X2;

AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 Overclocking

We have used the following system to test the processor overclocking capability :

Mainboard – asus M2N32-SLI deluxe (NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI), rev 1.03G;

Memory – 2x1024 MB corsair dominator TWIN2X2048-9136C5D;

Video card – NVIDIA geForce 8800 GTS 320 MB.;

Hard disk – maxtor diamondMax 10 6L200M0, SATA 200 GB;

Cooling system – zalman CNPS9700 LED;

Power unit – OCZ gameXStream GXS700 (700 W).

Well here all is more than easy ......

After decreasing the memory and system bus (hyperTransport) frequency , we rapidly determined the stable limit for the processor AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 with default voltage : this frequency was equal to 250 MHz HTT.

After checking the processor operational stability with the aid of utility S&M 1.9.0a in regime standard 100%- the processor temperature did not exceed 48c.

Only after overclock, it was possible to increase the memory frequency to 875 MHz.

AND here we stop....... ANY attempt to increase the voltage in order to attain higher overclock, result in black screen (The Mainboard just refuse to post ) . Probably, we have to wait for new BIOS versions in order to open the potential of this new processors. But here we should note that 2.6 GHZ with 1.15V is completely remarkable overclock.

AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 : Energy consumption Test

If we consider that those new AMD processors differ from old only in terms of energy consumption level . Therefore we should pay special attention to this aspect . what processors are more economical – intel or AMD?

Even AMD Processors on old 90 nm, consume less energy in rest state than Core 2 Duo , but this last proved to be more economical under load. Will the new 45- watt AMD processors able to change this situation ?

For this test we used the instrument : extech power analyzer 380803 , witch measure the energy consumption of system with processor described above AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 at rest state , with cool\'n\'Quiet technology , and under 100% load using the FPU- test utility S&M 1.9.0a. For comparison we used the processor intel core 2 Duo e6300 (1.86 GHz, FSB 266 MHz, rev. B2, 1.325 v), working in system with mainboard Asus P5K (Intel p35). The load on intel processor was achieved with the utility intel thermal analysis tool (TAT), since this last strongly loads this CPU.

With more economical AMD processors situation remained as before. At rest state , system with AMD processor , with lowered frequency to 1 GHz, and voltage 1.1 v, consumes 126 W against 140 W in system with intel processor , which decreased its frequency from 1.86 to 1.6 GHz only. However, under load core 2 Duo still more economical.

Intel have problem with the relatively high power consumption of micro-architecture core processors in rest state , with processors stepping L2 and modified B2, the consumption in rest state was reduced from 22 to 12 W, and now are prepared new revisions, where the power consumption will be reduced from 12 to 8W. So new intel processors can even pass AMD processors in energy savings at rest state. ....

Conclusion

We start from good news : The recommended prices of new AMD processors athlon X2 BE -2350 (2.1 GHz) and AMD athlon X2 BE -2300 (1.9 GHz) compose $90 and $85 respectively, in practice they do not differ from the prices of similar according to characteristics 65 nm processors AMD athlon 64 X2 4000+ and AMD athlon 64 X2 3600+. Thus, the decreased energy consumption and heat emission is practically free of charge. It is necessary to note that 45 W is good value in comparison with 89 W in 90 nm AMD processors and even in comparison with 65 W with the relatively new 65 nm Cpus.

At the same time, new processors do not demonstrate any update. AMD already presented dual core processors with energy consumption even less than 35 W. They were sold more expensive than usual and their maximum frequencies were also small.

The obtained overclock of processor AMD athlon X2 BE -2350 ( to 2.6 GHz ) is not record, but this is not the final result.

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